Skip Pita Interviewed About Black Box Negligence Case
Lawyer Howard “Skip” Pita of the law firm Pita Weber Del Prado was recently interviewed for a news segment regarding his firm’s successful use of black box data, to settle a negligence case on behalf of a marathon runner. The case involved a runner who was struck by a car while training for a marathon. The car that hit her was parked and stationary on the side of the street, when it was hit by a moving car and propelled onto the sidewalk, where the runner was training. The accident resulted in the runner suffering a serious leg injury, which required extensive medical treatment.
When the victim sought compensation, the driver of the car asserted that, in order to prevent an accident with an additional car, she was forced to brake suddenly, which caused her to swerve into the parked car that hit the runner. Pita Weber Del Prado represented the runner and worked to secure the compensation she deserved. To strengthen their case, Pita Weber Del Prado located additional witnesses, who directly countered the driver’s story. Additionally, they learned that the driver’s car was outfitted with a black box, also referred to as an event data recorder. They secured the black box information and learned that it also disputed the driver’s story. In fact, the black box showed that there was no swerve or braking done at the time of the accident. In actuality, the data showed that she simply drifted into the parked car. Pita Weber Del Prado were able to secure an undisclosed settlement for the runner, who will never be able to return to the activity she loved before the accident.
Black Boxes and the GM Recall
The widespread use of black boxes in automobiles will significantly affect automobile related negligence cases. As in the marathon runner’s case, black box information can help to prove the true events of a car accident or truck accident. In automobile manufacturing cases, the black box data is useful to prove the existence of any mechanical issues within the car.
According to a report by Reuters, the recent General Motors recall partly began with a black box data report. One of the first ignition switch lawsuits against GM was instituted after the black box data from a crashed car was reviewed. The information showed that, at the time of the accident, the ignition switch was not in the “on” or “start” positions, proving that the engine had shut off. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report, asserting that the airbags may not have deployed due to the key’s movement to the off position. Though the original case on this matter was settled for an undisclosed amount, the black box information indirectly led to the widespread recall currently underway by GM.
If you or a loved one is involved in an automobile negligence suit, contact the Miami based legal team of Pita Weber Del Prado for knowledgeable and skillful representation. Call the office today at 305-670-2889 for a free consultation.
